Automatic grease-plug lock



w. F. SCHMIDT.

AUTOMATIC GREASE PLUG LOC K. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19. 1920.

1,399,0 5, Patented Dec. 1921.,

WaZZz'am Jab/midi VI/129766866 I PATENT-OFFICE 1 wrLLIAMr. SCHMIDT, or (menu BAY, WISCONSIN.

AUTOMATIC GREASE-PLUG LOCK.

eas es.

T 0 all w h-omit may concern: 7

Be it known that I, VVILLIAM F. SCHMIDT, a citizen of theiUnited States, residing at Green Bay, in the county of Brown and State of Wisconsin have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Grease-Plug Locks, of which the following is a specification. I j

This invention relates to automatic grease plug locks for grease cups of locomotive engines and other machines where the continual jar of the machinery tends to loosen the alu l The object of the invention is to provide a simple and efiicient device for locking the plug against turning in one directionand permitting it to be turned in the opposite direction.

Another object is to provide such a device with simple and eflicient means for releasing the locking means when it is desired to remove the plug from the cup.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement'of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a grease cup embodying this invention with parts broken out and in section.

Fig. 2 is a similar view taken in a plane at ri ht angles to Fig. 1.

ig. 3 is a side elevation of the plug removed from the cup; and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

In the embodiment illustrated a grease cup 1 is shown having laterally spaced apertured projecting ears 2 on its outer face at its upper end for a purpose presently to be described. This cup 1 has an exteriorly threaded lower end 3 for insertion in the part of the machinery which it is designed to lubricate, a flange i projecting laterally from the cup above the threaded portion and operating as a stop for limiting the insertion of the cu lilounted to cooperate with the cup 1 is an exteriorly threaded plug 5, it being underr Specification of Letters Patent. Patented De 6 19,21 Application filedeMarch 19, 1920. Serial No. 367,261.

stood that the cup is internally threaded'to receive this plug so that it may be screwed inward to force the grease out of the cup to the part to belubricated. This plug 5 is provided at its'upper end with a polygonal head 6 which is adapted to be engaged by a wrench, or other suitable tool, for rotating the plug.

Agecess 7 is formed in the outer. face of the plug 5 and extends longitudinally thereof, having the greater portion of its length terminating at its end at points spaced inwardly from the ends of the plug, as is shown clearly in Fig. 3.

The walls 8 and 9 of' this recess 7 are shown arranged at right angles to each other, the wall 8 being radially disposed relatively to the plug while the wall 9 is tangentially disposed, these walls being designed one to look a pawl carried by the cup and the other to permit said pawl to ride out of the recess in a manner presently to be described.

A locking pawl 10 is shown in the form of a substantially inverted T-shaped member, the shank 11 of which is pivotally mounted at 12 between the ears 2 of the cup at a point near its free end, said free end being extended laterally inward toward the plug and provided at one side with a laterally projeeting nose or finger 13 which is designed to engage the radial wall 8 of the recess 7 for locking the plug against turning in the direction which would operate to unscrew it or separate it from the cup. The inturned laterally extending end 14 of the pawl has the side thereof opposed to that which carries the nose 13 rounded so as to facilitate the passage of the wall 9 of the recess 7 from under said pawl when the plug is turned to screw it into the cup.

The head 15 of this T-shaped pawl has its arms 16 curved to conform to the shape of the cup 1 and these arms are weighted so as to hold the pawl in operative engagement with the plug, said head being spaced from the cup a suflicient distance to permit it, when swung inwardly, to release the nose 13 of the pawl from the recess 7 of the plug and thus permit the plug to be removed when desired.

From the above description it will be obvious that the device constructed as shown and described will operate to hold the plug against turning in one direction and permit it to turn in the other direction, so that all danger of its becoming unscrewed and ,dewhat I claim. as new and desire ism-secure by .20

tached incident to ar of the machinery may be prevented and thataitamay be readily turned for forcing out 'the grease without necessitating releasing of the pawl.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages ofthe construction and of the method of operation will be'readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains and while I have described the principle of operation ofthe inventiontogether with the device which I now consider :to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understoodthat the device shown is merely illustrative and that. such changesmay be made as are within the scope of the claimed invention.

Havingthus fully described my invention,

Letters Patent, is:

A gneasecnphavingasplng threaded therein, said plug having a ratchetgroove there- ;Zin, an iniverted T shaped pawl having its .shank pivoted on said cup and a nose exitendingulaterally from its free end fonengagement with said groove, the head of said pawl-being spacedi'ifirom the cup, and the arms of said head being extended laterally and curved aroundithacup toprovide a weighted end fornormally retaining said nose in engagement with'said notch.

In testimony-whereof I afiix my signature in presenceof two witnesses.

WILLIAM F. SCHMIDT, Witnesses:

C. K. Bone, iG/JJ'BONG. 

